Hockey Melee
91.4 cms x 106.7 cms (36 ins x 42 ins)
Signed and dated 1941 and on verso titled and inscribed "cgp, agt 42, art association of montreal" / "502" / "box 5 - 42 march 2"
made in 1941
Lot offered for sale by Heffel, Vancouver at the auction event "May Live Auction 2016, Vancouver Live auction" held on Wed, May 25, 2016.
Lot 036
Lot 036
Estimate: CAD $12,000 - $16,000
Realised: CAD $23,600
Realised: CAD $23,600
Lot description - from the online catalogue*
Provenance:
Estate of the Artist, Detroit
Sold sale of Important Canadian Art, Sotheby's Canada in association with Ritchies, May 31, 2004, lot 35
Private Collection, USA
Exhibitions:
Art Gallery of Toronto and the Art Association of Montreal, Canadian Group of Painters, 1942
Art Gallery of Windsor, A Retrospective Exhibition of Selected Works by Caven Atkins Spanning Fifty Years of the Artist's Life, September 23 - October 28, 1979, catalogue #23
Literature:
Ted Fraser, A Retrospective Exhibition of Selected Works by Caven Atkins Spanning Fifty Years of the Artist's Life, Art Gallery of Windsor, 1975
Notes:
Despite our love of the game, depictions of historical hockey games are rare in Canadian art history. This scene depicts the Boston Bruins, winners of the 1941 Stanley Cup, in a valiant struggle to defend their goalie. Player #17 is Bobby Bauer, #8 Des Smith, and the figure that seems to be player #5, whom we can just see at the back of the melee, is either team captain Aubrey "Dit" Clapper or player #15, Milt Schmidt. Bruins goalie #1 Frank Brimsek dives into the net. The 1941 Stanley Cup semifinals featured the Boston Bruins against the Toronto Maple Leafs, but not enough detail is seen of the opposing team's jerseys to be certain of the match depicted. In 1941 Canada had been at war for almost two years, which profoundly affected all aspects of life, including sports. Team rosters had dwindled to single digits, and only seven teams played in the National Hockey League that year. Capturing a rare moment in art and sport history, Hockey Melee is an outstanding work, depicting the rough-and-tumble of the struggle at the goal line with strength and surety.
Estate of the Artist, Detroit
Sold sale of Important Canadian Art, Sotheby's Canada in association with Ritchies, May 31, 2004, lot 35
Private Collection, USA
Exhibitions:
Art Gallery of Toronto and the Art Association of Montreal, Canadian Group of Painters, 1942
Art Gallery of Windsor, A Retrospective Exhibition of Selected Works by Caven Atkins Spanning Fifty Years of the Artist's Life, September 23 - October 28, 1979, catalogue #23
Literature:
Ted Fraser, A Retrospective Exhibition of Selected Works by Caven Atkins Spanning Fifty Years of the Artist's Life, Art Gallery of Windsor, 1975
Notes:
Despite our love of the game, depictions of historical hockey games are rare in Canadian art history. This scene depicts the Boston Bruins, winners of the 1941 Stanley Cup, in a valiant struggle to defend their goalie. Player #17 is Bobby Bauer, #8 Des Smith, and the figure that seems to be player #5, whom we can just see at the back of the melee, is either team captain Aubrey "Dit" Clapper or player #15, Milt Schmidt. Bruins goalie #1 Frank Brimsek dives into the net. The 1941 Stanley Cup semifinals featured the Boston Bruins against the Toronto Maple Leafs, but not enough detail is seen of the opposing team's jerseys to be certain of the match depicted. In 1941 Canada had been at war for almost two years, which profoundly affected all aspects of life, including sports. Team rosters had dwindled to single digits, and only seven teams played in the National Hockey League that year. Capturing a rare moment in art and sport history, Hockey Melee is an outstanding work, depicting the rough-and-tumble of the struggle at the goal line with strength and surety.
Most realised prices include the Buyer's Premium of 18-25%, but not the HST/GST Tax.
(*) Text and/or Image might be subject matter of Copyright. Check with Heffel auction house for permission to use.
(*) Text and/or Image might be subject matter of Copyright. Check with Heffel auction house for permission to use.